SHTF Selecting a horse primer

[rainingcatzanddogs]

I mentioned that I might do this and then life got busy. Finally had a chance to sit down and write.

It is a topic I am passionate about. Horses have been my friends, my psychologist, my connection to nature and my job. They are also part of my SHTF plan for both transportation and to replace tractors, atv's ect, when fuel becomes depleted.

I have been riding and training now for about 50 years. Mostly western style, but, dabbled a few years in English riding as well (x country, dressage and hunter jumper). In that time a lot has changed about what we know, how we train and use these animals.

I cannot make it short and sweet because there is so much to learn and a short time to do it but, will try to make it informative and entertaining. Hopefully those who might be considering getting horses for a SHTF/TEOTWAWKI event will have enough information to proceed. Horses, are a life long learning experience. You will NEVER know it all; I certainly don’t. It is the knowledge and understanding of them that makes them useful to us. Knowledge that since they are no longer a common sight in the streets, we have lost.

We have a saying “Just when you think you have them all figured out, one comes along that proves you wrong.”

Horses are not dogs. They may have about the same intelligence level and be domesticated but, they are prey animals, not predators. The main defense that horses have:

• Run/move away from danger
• Bite
• Kick
• Stomp

The herd is their safety and has a hierarchy. There is a Stallion/alpha male (gelding) and then an alpha mare. The Stallion’s main job is to protect the herd and procreate. The Mare’s main job is to lead the herd to water, food or away from predators. The stallion brings up the rear.

This is a “typical” set up if you were to observe a feral herd (there are technically no more wild horses BTW; all breeds are now considered “domesticated”) but, like most things, once you add people into the mix, things change. People become the herd leader. Taking on the stallion and mare roles of protection and food….leadership.

Many people confuse “being the boss” and leadership. We see it all around us these days especially in government. A leader is someone you follow, willingly, because they have good judgement. A boss, is someone you obey because you want to avoid punishment.

When I started riding we “broke” horses. That term is apt. You broke their will, their spirit and often their minds. Some foreign trainers (from a country to our south) will still use old training methods such as stitching shut the eyelids of a difficult to train horse. I won’t get into all of that here. It suffices to say, that some horses, even today, had a very rough beginning in their relationship with people.

Why that all matters: A strong willed horse who has been mistreated, will never forgive, nor forget until they are taught otherwise. I have encountered horses that will try to run from anyone wearing a cowboy hat (baseball caps don’t bother them), don’t like women, don’t like men. Horses, have long memories. These kind of horses are generally not for the beginner owner.

I have also, over the decades, encountered many people who say “Oh yeah. I can ride horses. We went to RMNP and went on this wonderful trail ride….those horses are what we call “dead heads”, they have been trained not to respond to the mis-cues of the rider, and only follow the wrangler’s personal horse. That is not riding, it is sitting. You are cargo and nothing more. If your wish is to own a horse after TEOTWAWKI, to work, as transportation, you will have to learn to actually ride so, your first step will be lessons, NOW because there is a lot to learn. Your instructor will, when you are ready, help you find the right horse for you.

That said, there are a few rules of thumb:

Continued below....

 

[rainingcatzanddogs]

“Green horse + green rider = black and blue” Again, there are exceptions. I bought an 2 yo Caspian/QH cross for my 8 year old daughter. She had only been riding for about two years. My mentor at the time thought I was nuts. I told him “Wait until you see them together”. He admitted, after watching them, his first reaction was wrong. They were perfect for each other, but, he caveated that with, “They have you to keep an eye on things and straighten it out if it goes sideways”. If you are thinking of getting a horse just steer clear of young or recently trained horses. Yes, they are affordable…unless you add in the future hospital bills.

If you are a new rider, stick with an older horse. 20yo used to be considered well past time to put down…but, with advances in healthcare, nutrition and gentler more considerate training and use, more and more horses in that age group have a lot of life left. Ten or 15 years is still young these days. I put down my first horse (a quarter horse) a few years ago at the ripe old age of 36. A month before that, we were trotting poles (without a saddle or headstall)…he was an amazing lifelong friend who taught me a lot about the horse.

“No hoof. No horse”. That saying extends to the legs. As I mentioned, the main defense of a horse is to run. Horses can sleep standing up. They lay down only for about 15-30 minutes a day (unless they are sick). They are on their feet constantly.

Hooves on captive horses need to be trimmed about every 4-6 weeks. You can shoe a horse or not shoe a horse. Some horses need to be shod. Some do not. Some only need it occasionally for special events. Personally, I shoe none of my horses. The one mare I own with bad feet (she was a “gift” from a former boarder) is 26 and retired from riding. I have two others who have “feet of steel”; hooves and feet so healthy that even on our hard rock and gravel, they can out last most shod horses but, that was after a long period of acclimatization. Modern breeding and the accessibility to shoes has ruined the feet of most horse breeds.

There are two hoof diseases that are pretty common and serious that you need to look out for: Founder and Laminitis.

Founder often starts as laminitis. Laminitis is an inflammation in the hoof. It can be caused by diet (including contact with any kind of black walnut product), riding rough rocky terrain, shoes that are too small for the hoof, over working an out of shape horse, concussion on hard paved surfaces for long distances, metabolic issues or disease.

Once a horse has developed Laminitis it can progress into founder which is where the bone in the hoof will start to sink downwards, eventually protruding through the bottom of the hoof. Even if the horse survives, it will most likely be unrideable (again, there are always exceptions). Some breeds of horses, such as Thoroughbreds are more prone to both of these.

In a SHTF situation, one of the most assured ways to kill your horse is to take your pasture puff, out on the paved roads, ride it long distances at a high speed. Shod or unshod, an out of condition horse has not had the conditioning needed to adapt.

“You can’t ride papers” Some of the best dogs I have ever owned were mutts. Some of the best horses I have ever ridden, were “grade” (meaning un-papered). My roping horse is papered and off the Waggoneer Ranch (part of the 6666 ranch featured on Yellowstone). My cutter, is papered by the American Quarter Horse ASSN. My retired reining horse is also AQHA papered. My other 4 are all mutts, including my dressage and trail horse. Unless you are going to compete or show, papers are an added expense. You can have a prospective horse tested for the breeding diseases that the AQHA controls and check for overall health without paying for a papered horse.

Most novices don’t care if their horse is “cowy”, as a matter of fact, it can be un nerving. When my roper and cutter see cattle, they literally start to vibrate underneath the saddle. They are laser focused and ready for me to cue for launch. They have a job and come hell or high water, they are going to do it and the will power just oozes out of them! I don’t even have to tell them what to do, they just know all I have to do is say the word. For a beginner, riding out to a BOL, passing herds of cattle, that might not be such a good thing!

The same goes for Thoroughbreds. I have one TB x QH that was raced. He is FAST and he is relentless. It takes a strong and knowledgeable rider to keep control of him when his instinct kicks in. Do you really need that? Could you handle a 1200 lb animal that has decided he is going to run, barbed wire fence be damnned? He does what he was bred to do. Run. I’m just glad he isn’t full a full blown race line bred TB.

“Size Matters” Horses can carry a lot of weight but, over long distances and over time it can take a heavy toll on them (see Laminitis above). A rule of thumb is no more than 20% of the horse’s weight should be on its back. I go with a more conservative 15% because I put a lot of time and effort into training my horses and would like them to be pain free for as long as possible.

There are other factors to consider such as the horse’s health. My retired horse, bad feet and all, still gives grandkid rides. Additionally, the age of the rider and experience level of the rider.

Both of the latter have to do with balance. As we age, balance tends to wane even if we have been riding our whole lives. At 54, I can still grab my foot and stand on the other, raise my foot over my head and balance, but, it takes a bit more concentration then it did a few years ago. I have always had a reputation for having a Velcro butt (exceptional balance and thus a sticky seat). It happens to all of us. Accept it and deal. A balanced load, is much easier to carry for a horse than one that they constantly have to compensate for.

Another consideration is what the horse is used to carrying. I have watched several times as my ranch hand gets on my personal favorite horse (Ungaited Tennessee walker cross) and the entire body language changes. He outweighs me by at least 80 lbs. The ears go back, the feet shift and the horse just generally looks pissed off that this goon is on his back. Having a pissed off horse before you even ask him to do something he may not want to, is not a good start. It isn’t that he can’t handle the extra weight, he just isn’t used to it.

Height is another thing to consider. I like big, tall horses. But, gotta say it is much easier taking a fall from 14 hands high than 17+. There is also the issue of mounting up. I see a lot of people using mounting blocks to get on their horses. There are two schools of thought on this. It does make it easier on the horse and rider but, if you have to dismount on a trail or in a field, you may find that you cannot get back on! The right size of horse for you will be determined also by your leg length not just your overall height. I have the same inseam as my husband and he is half a foot taller. My leg hangs lower on slim barreled horses than sturdier breeds. This matters in the effectiveness of communicating leg cues and being able to tell your horse what you want them to do, goes way beyond kick for go, kick again to go faster!

You can actually steer a well-trained horse with your legs or seat alone. No reins needed. As I mentioned earlier, I could ride my old ghostie with no gear at all. For those of you who have never seen it Stacie Westfall, made this an accepted reality. There are still many people in the English discipline (which relies heavily on reins) that think doing this is insanity. But, then again they think me kissing and laying down on the ground near my horses is crazy too.



Part 2 will be what skill you need in a horse post SHTF….Questions? Comments? What do you need to know?

 

[Survivor_316]

THANK YOU!
Horses are one animal that totally intimidates me. My kids want a horse. We don't have cleared land for pasture and food, but it never hurts to have knowledge.

 

[rainingcatzanddogs]

THANK YOU!
Horses are one animal that totally intimidates me. My kids want a horse. We don't have cleared land for pasture and food, but it never hurts to have knowledge.

A lot of people find them intimidating but that is because they haven't learned to speak horse yet! LOL. They are some of the most honest creatures out there and tell you exactly what they are thinking, feeling and going to do, you just need to learn to communicate. Horses don't lie.

 

[rainingcatzanddogs]

You have taken lessons and can hold your own. With the help of a professional you found a healthy horse you can afford and fits your abilities. You can “talk” to your horse and understand what he is telling you. You have survived and learn to deal with a few mishaps. Now what?

You need to get out more.

Riding in an arena serves a purpose but, if you intend to actually use the horse as a mode of backup transportation in a SHTF situation, you need to spend most of your time riding out where there are no fences, gates or boundaries.

One of the things you will often see uttered is “He/she is JUST a trail horse.” Most of us who do a lot of trail riding, frankly, bristle at that and for good reason. A good trail horse is a highly trained animal.

A trail horse must be fearless or more accurately, be able to focus on its rider even though it is scared to death! .

When the SHTF, it will be anarchy.

Being prey animals, horses are inherently paranoid. They see danger in anything new. Sounds, smells, sights.

You can pass by a rock in one direction and then on the way back, the horse suddenly decides that same rock looks like a fire breathing dragon. The light has changed, the perspective is different = it wants to eat me!!!

Never believe someone who says their horse is “bomb proof” (meaning nothing spooks them). It is just a matter of encountering the right circumstance.

The kind of horse you want for SHTF is one who has seen much of the world beyond their own home place.

Even a ranch horse, has something new to see and experience.

Your horse, no matter how well trained, how calm, how much they have been desensitized, WILL eventually spook. You actually want them to at some point before SHTF, as crazy as that sounds.

How does he/she spook? Some horses just startle in place. Some startle then run. Some try to buck off their rider so they can run, some spin around and then bolt. Some jump sideways 10 feet. Knowing how your horse spooks, gives you the chance to practice handling it.

During SHTF, when on horseback, is not the time to realize your horse is absolutely terrified of car horns, guns, bull horns, or even goats. They will have to be taught to listen to you, focus on you even when they are scared…now is the time to train them for it.

 

[DrHenley]

Been there done that on the horses spooking for no apparent reason. Got bucked off one time, and the other time is hard to explain. I had someone riding with me and I think she dug her heels in. The horse just took off like a scalded dog as soon as she got on, and ran full tilt across a pasture and could not be reigned in. And it's like the horse hit a bump - we went up in the air, and the horse ran out from under us, and then we went down hard on our butts on the ground.
I know what you mean about cutting horses. I did partake in a roundup of strays one time at a friend's farm, and although I was totally inexperienced at it, the horse knew what to do, and all I did was go along for the ride.
I've always believed that developing a good relationship with a horse was much much better than breaking the horse, and I've ridden some really cantankerous horses that did everything they could to make the ride miserable. I can't help but believe they have a grudge against some prior mistreatment that they won't let go of.

 

[EastenerWesterner]

Very well done @rainingcatzanddogs.

Just to add to back up your points
My ponies were 30 ft from pretty busy street in LA. Cars, sirens, accidents nothing fazed or spooked them.
5 years of having big fields and quiet, I went out to feed. A covey of quail took off and spooked the ponies.
Exposure is key.

 

[rainingcatzanddogs]

Been there done that on the horses spooking for no apparent reason. Got bucked off one time, and the other time is hard to explain. I had someone riding with me and I think she dug her heels in. The horse just took off like a scalded dog as soon as she got on, and ran full tilt across a pasture and could not be reigned in. And it's like the horse hit a bump - we went up in the air, and the horse ran out from under us, and then we went down hard on our butts on the ground.
I know what you mean about cutting horses. I did partake in a roundup of strays one time at a friend's farm, and although I was totally inexperienced at it, the horse knew what to do, and all I did was go along for the ride.
I've always believed that developing a good relationship with a horse was much much better than breaking the horse, and I've ridden some really cantankerous horses that did everything they could to make the ride miserable. I can't help but believe they have a grudge against some prior mistreatment that they won't let go of.

Sounds like that runaway horse you were on, popped a kick. I've got one that likes to that at a full out gallop. My roper is out of Playgun, hall of fame cutter, unfortunately for him, he is a clutz, built for power not grace but he has the instincts of a cutter.

Horses need discipline but, it must be FAIR discipline, measured not by human understanding but by the horses perspective and understanding. Do not treat horses as a human, it disrespects the essence of the horse. Think like a horse.

If they are treated unfairly, they either fight or shut down and become numb with learned helplessness.

The latter make me sad because you have not only taken their spirit but, also negated some of their qualities that are far superior to our own; such as their sense of smell (horses have more olfactory nodes than dogs) and hearing.

We were out on 1,000 acres of mixed fields and forest. We got turned around. After 15 minutes trying to figure out which way to get back, I let my horse lead the way. Every once in a while, he would put his nose to the ground and smell his own trail.

If I had a dime for every time my horse warned me of deer about to cross my path, or a hunter up in a hunting blind, bog land along a river or other dangers, I would be a rich woman.

When you try to lord over your horse, demanding absolute obedience to your every command, instead of partnering with them, you are losing much of their value as a horse, not to mention their trust in your judgement as a leader. This will be most needed after SHTF.

I was riding out with an old cowboy friend of mine. I told him "Oliver would like to go see what is behind that fence over there." The old cowboy laughed at me and said "He talks to you does he? English or Spanish?". I told him yes he does talk to me in horse. I am his interpreter. He just laughed.

A few weeks later we were riding out again and he was behind me. All I hear is "Well I'll be damned! That horse really does talk to you!"

He had been around horses his whole life and he had a couple of decades on me. Oliver and I changed his perspective. He taught me and I taught him but the horses taught us both.